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Yarobun, if you’re like me, you’re probably experiencing an in-between-dramas lull. Nothing quite like that WOTM typhoon that pretty much sucked us all in its path. So, what better moment to finally catch up on a few new ones that have premiered during the crazy last quarter run of WOTM 😉

With zero expectations, I started off with Mystic Pop-Up Bar and almost 5 minutes into the “Modern” era segment, I realised it was Hwang Jung Eum’s post-baby project. And it took me another good 3 minutes eye-balling her because she looked somewhat… different. She looks FANTASTIC being a new Mum and all (don’t get me wrong), but is it her make-up or something that makes the Hhmmm? bell go off in my brain?

Cr.: Soompi

Anyhoo, this drama is about 500-year old Wol Joo (Hwang Jung Eum) who has to appease 100,000 souls in order to leave this world and find her own peace. Why? Please watch episode 1 for the back story 🙂

It is not in the pursuit of happiness that we find fulfillment, it is in the happiness of pursuit.

Denis Waitley

We all have personal journeys we live through, and whichever route we make along the way, it was meant for us to experience. Every single step of it.

The different rooms of denial, confusion, renewal, and contentment are housed within ourselves – and we will go through them at different intervals in our lives. That’s probably one of the reasons why we simply shouldn’t compare our lives with others. We live within our own timing and our growth is linked to how often we move within those rooms. Or how long we decide to remain in any of them.

My reflection at the end of this amazing adaptation of BBC’s “Dr. Foster” is that we determine our own happiness and we should not impose our definition of it onto others, no matter how precious they may be in our life.

I was evidently rooting for Dr. Kim to be part of Sun Woo’s future happiness. Although he is not in the conventional position of a spouse, but for Sun Woo to know that he will be there for her no matter what, is an acknowledgement of her definition of happiness. And perhaps of his too.

However, kudos to the ensemble of actors and entire production crew for putting forth a thought-provoking, heart-wrenching, and sugarless coating of the natural evolution of human relationships.

Yarobun. We have entered the final lap of this sublime makjangtour de force.

Gone are the days of deep breathing challenges while watching an episode of Kdrama. The feeling of tightness in our chest when we can see injustice unfolding before our eyes. Our hands itching to swing in full-force towards those deserving annoyances… how I shall miss these moments!

The formidable Dr. Jin Sun Woo had gone through multiple life-changing moments since the discovery of a single red-hair strand in the purple scarf. Ever since then, decisions made mostly with her child’s welfare in mind. As parents, it is in our nature to protect the family when chaos looms.

Energy and tremendous effort has been invested in fortifying emotional walls, and mental preparation is also a requirement for those who are stepping into their new phase in life.

Photo from medium.com

However, Joon Yeong may have missed out on learning how to survive the mental and emotional catharsis as he witnessed the demise of his parents’ relationship. Or perhaps he had chosen his own coping mechanism by unbecoming the person he used to be? After all, he was not the cause of their breakdown.

Yarobun, I’m confident that KDrama aficionados such as your lovely selves must have come across many, many squee moments (usually between lead actors). And you’d hug your pillow tightly, grinning impishly at the scene which you had probably replayed more than five times.

In WOTM, especially with the batshit-crazy speed of how the plot unfolded and refolded, we were introduced to this rather stoic man who crossed paths with Sun Woo as she entered the elevator to meet Je Hyuk in a hotel room.

His aura of calmness and civility went well with his profession as a Psychiatrist and when he saw Sun Woo walk into the hospital the next day, you could tell the thoughts that synapsed through his steady gaze on her:* I saw you last night * you’re a doctor here * I’m drawn to you

Keen interest was in the air when Kim Hee Ae was hired to be lead female of aforementioned drama. On the surface, we may have pictured a happy marriage gone awry, secret affairs (such a pun because she was in the cult hit Secret Affair with Yoo Ah In), and fake friends who put on superficial niceties.

A very successful doctor who holds yet an important role in the hospital, she seems to be the pillar of the family and ensures the home is a smooth-running domicile. Apparently still very into the Kamasutra arts with her husband as episode 1 reveals to us all – and within the next 20 minutes of the opening, unsettling hints of a third party come in shapes of tinted lipbalm in hubby’s coat pocket & a long strand of red hair on the scarf which her loving husband wrapped around her as she left for work.

Photo credit: Soompi

Before the end of episode 1, I believe there were millions of jaws on the floor, shock and awe stuck in our throats, unblinking eyes soaking in the unthinkable plot movement.

By the time credits rolled, we were all very likely to be stunned in silence. What a preposterous kick-off to an ass-kicking piece of Kdrama writing! Joo Hyun-sshi you are Da BOMB!

If only networks could pace the amount of good dramas to broadcast, my Kdrama viewing life would be set. However, we know that shall never happen on a consistent basis 🙂

So, on a rather quiet evening, I perused the backlog of dramas that have premiered but didn’t get a chance to watch (and assess its worthiness to invest my time). I saw Misty, with one of my fave actors, Ji Jin Hee, in the lead role.

OK, this could be promising…

Valid Love

Unbeknownst to him, Hee-Tae (Uhm Tae-Woong) met his future wife, Il-Ri (Lee Si-Young), when she was a student at an all-girls high school where he worked as a temporary biology teacher.Il Ri (which is a homonym for the world “valid”) falls in love with him since then.

Presently, Hee-Tae works as a fishery researcher and is a contented husband, until he learns that his wife is having an affair with a carpenter (Lee Soo-Hyuk). Of course the carpenter just happens to be THIS hawt!